Jobs breaks from medical leave to unveil iPad 2 (continued)

The iPad 2 is also thinner—8.8 millimeters, or about a third of an inch, instead of the current 13.4 millimeters. It weighs just a bit less—1.3 pounds, compared with the original 1.5 pounds.

With a $39 accessory, people can connect the tablet to televisions, so they can watch high-definition videos on the bigger screen.

The next-generation iPads will cost the same as the originals—$499 to $829, depending on storage space and whether they can connect to the internet over a cellular network. Apple will add a white model to the current black. In the U.S., the iPad 2 will go on sale March 11 and work on AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless.

Apple’s online store began selling the original models for $100 off, starting at $399. Refurbished versions were even lower, starting at $349.

A reporter who used a white iPad 2 immediately after the announcement found it noticeably thinner, with a more rounded back. YouTube video loaded quickly using AT&T’s data service, and “Toy Story 3” played smoothly.

Given its size, the iPad 2 appeared impractical for taking lots of photos, but both cameras will help with video chats—the front one to show the caller, and the back one to show what the caller is seeing.